Friends Of The Rouge Director To Speak At First Lady’s Tea

DEARBORN, MI. – Marie McCormick, the executive director of the Friends of the Rouge, will be the featured speaker at the Dearborn Community Arts Council’s First Lady’s Tea at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 28 at the Dearborn Hills Golf Course.

McCormick will present updates on the progress made to improve the Rouge River’s water quality and reintroduce recreational opportunities on the waterway.

First Lady Christina O’Reilly is the host of the event. It raises funds for the DCAC, which operates the Padzieski Gallery and promotes the arts and arts organizations in the Dearborn area, as well as offering a variety of community arts programs.

O’Reilly invited Ms. McCormick speak at the Tea because of her accomplishments in the environmental field and to share insights into continuing developments in restoring the Rouge River, which is Dearborn’s important waterway.

McCormick has been the executive director of the Friends of the Rouge since 2017 and previously served as the executive director of Oak Creek Watershed Council in Sedona, Arizona for two years. The Rouge River is near to McCormick’s heart, as she grew up in Northville, close by the waterway. Since becoming executive director, McCormick and the Friends have made great progress, including increasing the installation of beneficial rain gardens, which improve the health of the Rouge River watershed.

She is a graduate of Aquinas College, earning a bachelor of arts in English literature, as well as an executive certificate in nonprofit leadership from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.

The highly anticipated First Lady’s Tea fundraiser and luncheon offers light entertainment, an assortment of fine teas and foods, and opportunities to win raffle prizes. A highlight is viewing the individually decorated tea tables, each with a different theme.

As a special addition to this year’s tea, the Dearborn Historical Museum will display information about influential women in the City’s history in celebration of Dearborn’s 90th birthday.

Reservations are required. Tickets are $40 each or a discounted price of $280 for a table of eight. Reservations can be made by calling 943-3095; online at dcacarts.org; or by sending a check made out to the Dearborn Community Arts Council to 15801 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, 48126 - ATTN: FLT.

For more information, visit www.dcacarts.org or call the DCAC at 313-943-3095.